Car-coupling



(Model) A. LENHART.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 286,207. I Patented 00. 9,1883.

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Unirnn drains Patient rricn.

ARTHUR LFNI'IA RU, OF PORllL;-\.Nl), OREGON.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,207, dated Gctober Application filed October 30, 1582. (Modeh) To all whom it may concern:

'ie it known that l, An'rnu'n LEM-um, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Car-Coup] ing, of which the following is a speci' iication.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings; and its objects are, first, to secure a perfect and complete coupling that can be used on all rolling-stock of every description, and which will couple itself without human agency when brought together, and, second, can be uncoupled from the top or either side of the train without passing between the cars. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a View of the coupling as constructed, showing the under part or bottom of the car; and Fig. 2 is a seetionalyicw, showing the draw-head cut in the center.

It consists of the drawhead a, with the hook c on one side and the tongue (6 on the other, and the small semicircular rec'ess e, suited for one-half of the pin ff, cut out of the center, attached to the draw-bar 7) by means of and so as to turn on a bolt. The diawheads, coming together, form a double catch, one 011 either side, and form, by the semicircular recesses meeting in the center, a round hole for the pin ff. This pin is the means which fasten the coupling, and by which it is uncoupled. It is halved in two, and each part is fitted in the recess 0, and held to its place with its face 1) (see Fig. 2) at an oblique angle to the face of the draw-head, by the spring a, and so as to be turned till its face becomes parallel and flush with the face of the draw-head. The face of the draw-head runs obliquely to a line at right angles with the central line of the car, sufficiently to slip into its place invariably by the pressure of the connecting cars. The semicircular parts of the pin f f in each draw-head are pressed down till they become flush with the face of the draw-head and till they slip into their proper places. Then they spring back to their original oblique angle, forming together, a round pin exactly fitting the opening, and finally fastening the coupling underneath the draw-head, and is so that they will never part, no matter from what direction comes the strain.

The couplings are uncoupled by turning the pin till the faces of its parts become parallel wit-h the face of the draw-head, when the conncction will. be entirely free, there being a smooth surface running clear across the drawheads, allowing them to part when separated. Each half of the pin ff has the small crank g connected by means of the small crank 71. to the elbowcrank 1', attached to the draw-bar under the car, which changes the motion, and from. thence to the crank k, on either side of the car, one of which cranks, on all box-cars, is attached to a rod running to the top of the car, so that they may be uncoupled from the top or either side of the train by the use of the handle Z, so. arrranged with jaws as to be readily attached to the crank and to be carried. by the trainmen.

The means of uncoupling these couplings, being concentrated in a single pin formed by the two halves meeting in the center, allows the couplingto be uncoupled from either car, as 7 5 the turning ofone half turns the other. Therefore a coupling may be uncoupled though one side be broken and disconnected, or be only attached to a link-and-pin drawbar, as it may be.

The parts claimed as myinvention are the draw-head and bar divided in two parts, and connect ed so as to turn when necessary. The draw-head may also be attached to,a link-andpin draw-bar, if desired,'the double catch on 85 either side, with a plane face, serving for a buffer between, and the concentration of the means of coupling and uncoupling in a single pin in the center formed by the two halves meeting, and the connections arranged to en- 0 able them to be uncoupled from either side or top of the train.

I claim 1. The combination, in a ear-coupling, of a draw-head, a, with a hook, c on one side and 9 5 a tongue d, on the other, and a semicircular recess, e, and pin f in the center, the pin f held to its place, with its face at an oblique angle to the face of the draw-head a, by the spring a, with its connection to the draw-bar 10o pose of turning pin f till its face becomes flush b by means of a pin, for the purpose of allow- I 3. The handle Z, limited to the use as shown, 10 ing the draw-head to swing to one side When and in combination with the lever is, r'od j, coupling. and bell-crank lever t, as substantially set 2. Ina car-coupling, the combination of the I forth. connecting-rods h and j, and the cranks i and T 7a with the crank g on pin f, for the puri ARDHUR' LEBHARI" Witnesses;

FRANCIS B. \VINTEns,

E. W. MoRRIsoN.

with face of draw head, all as substantially set forth. 

